In Her Words: Janice's Story

In Her WordsCandid profiles of strength told by the women of Northbridge

Throughout the month of March we have collaborated to celebrate Women’s History Month and the rich history of the amazing women living in our communities. Their candid stories are brimming over with love, happiness, passion, family values and the markings of individuals who have truly lived well and loved life.

Janice’s Story (Resident of Stroudwater Lodge) as told by Becca Roy, Social Program Director at Stroudwater Lodge.

Janice Avery moved into Stroudwater Lodge with her husband, Dick a year ago and has made a lasting impression on everyone she interacts with. A woman of strong faith and background, Janice had to walk four miles to school every day but this only shaped her into the passionate woman she is today. She was introduced to her husband, Dick, by her brother and the two were married two years later. Jan shares her passion of family and art with her three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

In addition to her loving family, Jan is also passionate about art, she took a mechanical drawing class in high school as a way to find a summer job and ended up using the skills to shape each home her family lived in. Jan realized that this was a passion of hers and would work with the architect each time they moved to make sure the house was just right and suited her family.

Although her passion was art, Jan also had a degree in Sociology from Hobart and Williams Smith College that she used to practice social work. Jan made sure to always find time to nurture her true passion of art and worked as the lead docent at the Huntington Galleries while she was living in West Virginia. It was here that she furthered her progressions in charcoal and pencil drawing and learned about oils and pastels.

Jan has found that of all the mediums of art she has experimented with, her greatest love is painting with watercolors. You can find her every Tuesday at the Stroudwater Lodge Artist in Residence program practicing her technique and skill. She continues to inspire fellow residents to join the program, she has even managed to convince her husband to start coming with her!

Her kindness, attention to detail and ability to find the beautiful things in life are what makes Jan such a wonderful addition to the community at Stroudwater Lodge. She not only brightens up a canvas, she brightens up the entire room!